Battery terminal bridge

ABSTRACT

A means to be mounted over the cable terminal clamp of a storage battery, that will assure uninterrupted flow of current through the ignition system of an automobile, in instances when corrosion has taken place between the post and the terminal clamp. It comprises a bridge having contact means that positively engage, and is embedded into, the terminal post and the terminal clamp; thus assuring continuity of current through the system, by bridging the corrosive condition.

United States Patent Hein 1 51 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] BATTERY TERMINALBRIDGE [72] Inventor: Louis T. Hein, 3Sl5 4-Mile Road,

Racine, Wis. 53404 221 Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 211 App]. No.: 172,142

521 US. (:1. ..339/9s B, 339/19, 339/224, 339/237 5 1 Int. Cl. ..H0lr11/20 [58] Field of Search ..339/19, 95, 222, 224-240 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,843 3/1936 Hagel ..339/95 B 2,892,1796/l959 De Voe ..339/225 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 497,500 11/1953Canada ..339/226 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney-Axel H.Johnson 57] ABSTRACT A means to be mounted over the cable terminal clampof a storage battery, that will assure uninterrupted flow of currentthrough the ignition system of an automobile, in instances whencorrosion has taken place between the post and the terminal clamp. Itcomprises a bridge having contact means that positively engage, and isembedded into, the terminal post and the terminal clamp; thus assuringcontinuity of current through the system, by bridging the corrosivecondition.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BATTERY TERMINAL BRIDGE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention concerns a means to bemounted over the terminal post and cable clamp of a battery to remedythe situation where the mutual engaging surfaces of the post andterminal clamp have become corroded so as to reduce, or entirelyinterrupt, the flow of current in the system. This device is especiallyhelpful for use by service men when called to service an automobilehaving corroded terminal connections.

2. Description of the Prior Art The applicant is not presently aware ofany similar device that will accomplish the objects of the presentdevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a bridge or bracket ofconductive material that embraces the terminal clamp of a battery. Acontact member is positioned in the bracket on each side of the clamp,and which members are adjusted so as to become embedded into the lead ofthe clamp. A contact member is also positioned in the bracketapproximately on the axis of the terminal post and which member isembedded in the upper end of the post. An object of this invention is toprovide a means that will permit the current from the battery to by-passthe corrosion between the post and the terminal clamp and assure anuninterrupted flow of current through the system.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device as assembled on the terminal of abattery.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device, and showing the means of assuringa positive flow of current from the post to the terminal clamp.

FIG. 3 is a modification of the means of clamping the device on the postand terminal clamp.

The preferred form of this bridge is indicated at 10, which ispreferably of steel and is mounted over the terminal post 12 of thebattery 14. The post 12 has assembled thereon the standard terminalclamp 16 which engages the tapered post 12, and is provided with a cable18 of the usual type.

The preferred form of the bridge comprises a transverse portion 19having vertical, downwardly-extending arms 20 and 21. This bridge is ofa substantial thickness to resist excessive spreading of the arms whenthe device is being mounted.

A contact screw 22 is threaded into the transverse portion 19 at acentral position thereof, and is provided with a cone point to permit itto be embedded into the end surface of the post 12. Similar contactscrews 24 and 26 are provided in each of the arms 20 and 21.

When a corrosive condition occurs between the mutually-engaging surfacesof post 12 and clamp 16, the bridge 10 is placed over the clamp 16 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Contact screw 22 is initially positionedapproximately at the center of post 12 so that screws 24 and 26 canengage the clamp 16 approximately as shown in FIG. 2. Contact screws 24and 26 are then unifomily turned toward clamp 16 until the cone pointsthereof are deeply embedded in the sides of the clamp, as shown in FIGS.1 and 2. Screw 22 is then similarly adjusted so as to embed the conepoint thereof deeply into t u er surface of 0st 12.

It wi ll b e obvious that urrent will now flow positively from post 12,through screw 22, along portion 19 and arms 20 and 21, through screws 24and 26, and then into clamp 16, and finally through cable 18: thusbypassing the mutual corroded surfaces of post 12 and clamp 16.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the form of a stud 28 which issubstituted for screw 24. This modification may be preferred in someinstances.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a battery having a post, and a terminal clampsecured to said post, a means to electrically by-pass a corrosivecondition between the mutually-engaging surfaces of said post and saidclamp, comprising a bridge having a transverse portion traversing saidpost and said clamp and terminating in arm portions directed toward saidbattery, contact means in said transverse portion adjustably embeddedinto said post and contact means in each of said arm portions to beadjustably embedded into the surface of said clamp.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said contact meanscomprise threaded members.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which said threadedmembers terminate in cone points.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which one of said contactmeans in said arm portion comprises an integral fixed member.

1. In combination with a battery having a post, and a terminal clampsecured to said post, a means to electrically by-pass a corrosivecondition between the mutually-engaging surfaces of said post and saidclamp, comprising a bridge having a transverse portion traversing saidpost and said clamp and terminating in arm portions directed toward saidbattery, contact means in said transverse portion adjustably embeddedinto said post and contact means in each of said arm portions to beadjustably embedded into the surface of said clamp.
 2. The combinationas set forth in claim 1, in which said contact means comprise threadedmembers.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which saidthreaded members terminate in cone points.
 4. The combination as setforth in claim 1, in which one of said contact means in said arm portioncomprises an integral fixed member.